A speeding 21-year-old driver caused a fatal three-car accident Saturday when he ran a red light and his Grand Prix collided with a Metro Call-A-Ride bus. Seconds later, a third vehicle crashed into the Grand Prix. The two passengers in the Grand Prix, ages 19 and 21, and the driver of the second vehicle were rushed to the hospital with traumatic personal injuries. The 51-year-old driver of the second car remains hospitalized in serious condition, but both Grand Prix passengers died of their injuries. The speeding driver who caused the fatal St. Louis car accident was treated at the hospital for minor injuries and released into police custody.

In the blink of an eye, a driver’s poor judgment forever changed the lives of four families. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, one-third of traffic fatalities are caused by speeding. Of the 878 total traffic fatalities that occurred in Missouri in 2009, approximately 45% were caused by speeding, according to U.S. census statistics.

Even when St. Louis auto accidents are not fatal, they can cause life-altering personal injuries and leave St. Louis accident victims and their families saddled with hospital and doctor bills, prescription drug costs and rehabilitation expenses. Some personal injury auto accident victims suffer lingering physical and emotional damage. The Missouri personal injury attorneys at Hoffman & Gelfman urge St. Louis auto accident victims and their families to discuss their case and legal rights with an experienced St. Louis personal injury lawyer before accepting an insurance settlement.